"It is a fact that there is a discrepancy. It's because in one state one community may be in the ST list, but not in another state. Even, within a state, such things do exist," Tribal Affairs Minister V Kishore Chandra Deo said replying on a debate on The Constitutional (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2012 in Rajya Sabha.
The Bill, which aimed at providing ST status to 'Medara' community, as recommended by Karnataka government, was passed in Lok Sabha earlier. The Rajya Sabha approved it today.
"Basically, every state has its own list of SCs and STs. Since, it is a state subject, I can't do anything. In case of any recommendation from the states regarding the inclusion or exclusion of a tribe, we refer it to the Registrar General of India," he said.
Members from different parties demanded that the bill be made more comprehensive by including more communities in the ST list.
"The list needs to be made more comprehensive," said Prashant Chatterjee (CPI-M), a view endorsed by D Bandyopadhyay (Trinamool) and others.
Deo said it was not possible. "The comprehensive list will never come...I think it is beyond me to change," he said.
At present there are 50 communities appearing in the list of Scheduled Tribe in Karnataka. This bill seeks to fulfil the long-standing demand for granting the ST status to Medara community, Deo added.